At least five people were injured as students from the Islami Jamiat Taleba (IJT) attacked a Pashtun cultural event being held at Punjab University (PU), Lahore. As per media reports Islami Jamiat Taleba members allegedly tried to halt cultural event, which resulted in a clash between students at the university. IJT on the other hand claimed that its female wing had organized a function related to Pakistan day which was attacked by the Pashtun students. Irrespective of who was responsible for the incident, one thing is fairly obvious; the management of the Punjab University has failed miserably in ensuring peace on the campus. The Islami Jamiat Taleba on numerous occasions in recent past has been blamed for harassing students, teachers and university administration and moral policing on the campus (a charge which the IJT denies but facts speak otherwise). The entire country witnessed scenes on television screens of female students running for safety as men armed with various items such as batons, hockey and steel rods thrashed students. How this sort of thuggery is going on for many years on the campus of Punjab largest university is a question that has no real answer.
The rise in violent incidents linked to the Islami Jamiat Taleba, the student wing of Jamat Islami have increased over the past couple of months. According to a newspaper report published in January the rise in Jamiat’s activity on the campus is a direct result of policy of new vice-chancellor Dr Zafar Mueen Nasir. The said report says ‘The previous administration of the Punjab University was at loggerheads with the IJT, while the new VC has taken a ‘softer’ stance against the student union. Reportedly, a meeting was held between IJT representatives and the VC, in which the student body assured it would work to promote education. Subsequently, the PU administration withdrew cases of violence against IJT.’
Taking notice of the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has directed the Lahore capital city police officer (CCPO) to submit a report on the incident and take strict action against those involved in the dust-up. Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah in a media interview blamed IJT activists for the brawl. Addressing a press conference after conducting a high-level meeting with PU administration, Higher Education Minister Raza Ali Gillani constituted a fact finding committee under the supervision of PU Vice Chancellor Dr Zafar. The committee will present its report to the minister within 10 days. The minister said that Pushtun students were holding the event after the approval of the university’s administration. He added that strict action would be taken against culprits irrespective of their affiliation with any organisation. PU Vice Chancellor Dr Zafar has also assured that indiscriminate action would be taken against those involved in the incident and nobody would be allowed spread chaos at the campus. Commenting on the incident Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif in a tweet said ‘Jamiat Tulaba started violence& extremism in our universities in 1970s. Today in Punjab University same fascist mindset was demonstrated.’ The response to the incident from the government has been very positive. The statements issued by the Ministers suggest that the government has had enough of hooliganism at Punjab’s largest university and will go in hard after any group involved in violence. It is obvious that the varsity management has failed to put an end to violence and that the Punjab government must intervene and ensure that no group is allowed to spread fear at the varsity.
Violent incidents have become a common occurrence at Punjab University.